Method and apparatus for rocking platforms



Oct. 1, 1968 v A. E. HAMILTON 3,403,905

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROCKING PLATFORMS Filed June 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALFRED E. HAMILTON ATTORNEY Oct. 1, 1968 A. E. HAMILTON 3,403,905

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROCKING PLATFORMS Filed June 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALFRED E. HAMILTON lax 7M ATTORNEY Oct. 1, 1968 E, HAMILTQN 3,403,905

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROCKING PLATFORMS Filed June 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ALFRED E. HAMILTON Fig.8 I BY7/MJ77 ATTORNEY Oct. 1, 1968 A. E. HAMILTON 3,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROCKING PLATFORMS Filed June 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I86 I84 Fig. I! 'Q- I N VEN TOR.

ALFRED E. HAMILTON AT TO RNEY United States Patent 3,403,905 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RGCKING PLATFORMS Alfred E. Hamilton, 106 Gladstone Road, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15217 Filed June 22, 1965, Ser. No. 465,995 Claims. (Cl. 272-57) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This patent discloses an apparatus and the method of using same for rehabilitating muscular members of a person. The apparatus comprises a platform universally mounted for reciprocal motion about two substantially mutually perpendicular horizontal axes simultaneously, both motions being at a continuously changing angle of tilt and at a continuously varying rate of speed. Epicycloidal drives are used to produce the motions mentioned above, e.g., in cooperation with mutually perpendicular arms underlying and attached to the platform.

This invention relates to devices having rocking platforms which are adapted to support a person and which, through their rocking motion, aid in culminating and rehabilitating the muscular members of said person, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for rocking the platforms of devices of the type described, simultaneously about two intersecting axes.

As is known, exercise is very helpful, for example, in eliminating stiffness from the muscles of those persons who have been bedridden for long periods of time. Also, mild exercise is helpful in maintaining the agility of arms, legs and spine of those persons suffering, for example, from arthritis or other muscular and joint ailments.

It should be evident that elderly persons cannot, for obvious reasons, perform very strenuous exercises. Furthermore, the nature of their ailments makes it very difficult for some of them to move about. Therefore, to maintain muscle tone or to maintain or regain agility in their limbs and spine, some mild form of exercise is necessary. For example, simple bending of the legs and arms has proven helpful in eliminating stiffness associated with the elbow and shoulder joints as well as the knee joints and pelvis joints.

Accordingly, as an overall object, the present invention seeks to provide apparatus for culminating and rehabilitating the muscular members of the human body.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus having a platform adapted to support a person in a standing position or in a sitting position, which platform is made to rock in a manner which causes mild flexing of his muscles.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for rocking a platform simultaneously about two intersecting axes, through a continuously changing angle of tilt and at a continuously varying rate of speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method for rocking a platform simultaneously about two intersecting axes.

In accordance with the present invention, apparatus is provided for culminating and rehabilitating the muscular members of a human body. The apparatus includes a platform adapted to support a person in a standing position or in a sitting position. The platform is supported for universal tilting motion substantially about its geometric center and is guided at spaced points about its periphery in a manner which will permit it to be tilted about two axes which are substantially mutually perpendicular. A pair of drive means is operatively connected to the platform for rocking the platform through ice a continuously changing angle of tilt and at a continuously changing rate of speed about each of the axes. The drive means are operated simultaneously, whereby the platform is rocked simultaneously about both of the axes.

The drive means employed in the present apparatus are of the epicycloidal type. That is to say, each of the drive means has a crank member whose path of travel is in the form of an epicycloid curve. As will be described, the epicycloid path of travel of the crank member is retarded or revolved about the center of the drive, whereby the angle of tilt and rate of speed of the platform are changed continuously.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the rehabilitating apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the rehabilitating apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the rehabilitating apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 3, illustrating a universal joint connection between a platform and a base of the present apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line VV of FIG. 3, illustrating one of a plurality of platform guide means;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line VIVI of FIG. 1, illustrating a combination gate and starter mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the present epicycloid drive;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 7, illustrating the internal construction of the epicycloid drive;

FIG. 9 is a view schematically illustrating the epicycloidal path of travel of a crank member of the epicycloid drive;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a harness employed in the present rehabilitating apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of one of a pair of foot pads employed in the present rehabilitating apparatus; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the manner in which the foot pad of FIG. 11 is connected to the platform of the present rehabilitating apparatus.

Rehabilitating apparatus general description Reference is now directed to FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, wherein a rehabilitating apparatus, indicated generally by the numeral 20, is illustrated. The apparatus 20 includes a base 22 provided with equiangularly-spaced casters 24 which permit movement of the apparatus 20 to any desired location. The casters 24 are preferably of the type which lock when a person steps onto the apparatus 20 and which unlock when the person steps down.

Projecting upwardly from the base 22 is a handrail structure 26 comprising a top rail 28 which is connected to the base 22 by means of four equiangularly-spaced pairs of spaced posts 30, 32, 34 and 36, and by means of three reinforcing means 38 secured to the top rail 28 and the base 22. As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the top rail 28 does not extend completely around the base 22 and therefore provides an opening or pathway 40 through which a person may enter or leave the apparatus 20.

Spaced above the base 22 is a platform 42 which is connected to the base 22 and supported by a universal joint connection 44. The universal joint connection 44 is positioned substantially at the geometric center of the platform 42 and permits the platform 42 to undergo universal tilting or rocking motion about the joint 44. Projecting radially outwardly from the platform 42 and beyond its peripheral edge are four rod members 46, each of which extends through a slide member 48. More exactly, the slide members 48 are positioned between the pairs of spaced posts 30, 32, 34 and 36 and are slideable vertically therebetween during rocking motion of the platform 42.

It should be evident then that the pairs of spaced posts 30, 32, 34 and 36 have two functions, namely, as support members for the top rail 28 and as guide members for the slide members 48. As can best be seen in FIG. 1, the slide members 48 associated with the pairs of spaced posts 30 and 34 permit the platform 42 to rock about the universal joint connection 44 in a first direction and about an axis, indicated by the dashed-dot line 50, which passes through the universal joint connection 44. Likewise, the slide members 48 associated with the pairs of spaced posts 32 and 36 guide the platform 42 for tilting in a second direction about the universal joint connection 44 and about a second axis, indicated by the dashed-dot line 52, which passes through the universal joint connection 44. The axes 50 and 52 are substantially mutually perpendicular and, therefore, it will be appreciated that the platform 42 may be tilted about the universal joint connection 44 into an infinite number of positions.

The platform 42 also is provided with a plurality of guardrail members 54, all of which are rigidly secured to the platform 42 and project upwardly therefrom, and a detachable guardrail member 56 positioned at the pathway 40. As will b described later in the specification, the detachable guardrail member 56 serves, first, as a guardrail when in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, for example; second, as a gate member since it may be pivoted outwardly of the position shown in FIG. 2; and, third, as a means for starting and stopping the drive means, to be described, which cause the platform 42 to be tilted or rocked about the axes 50, 52.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rehabilitating apparatus 20 is provided with two epicycloid drive units 58 and 60, each of which is driven by an electric motor 62. The drive units 58 and 69 are coupled to their respec tive electric motors 62 by means of a conventional variable speed pulley mechanism 64 (shown schematically herein) by which the speed of the epicycloid drive units 58 and may be varied. Each of the drive units 58, 60 includes a crank member 66 which is connected to one of the rod members 46 by a connecting rod 68. As best shown in FIG. 3, the crank member 66 is connected to one end of the connecting rod 68 by means of a universal joint 70 and the other end of the connecting rod 68 is connected to the rod member 46 by means of a second universal joint 72. The overall arrangement is such that as the crank member 66 gyrates through its epicycloid path of travel, to be described, its motion is converted by means of the connecting rod 68 and by virtue of the movement restriction provided by the slide members 48 and the pairs of spaced posts 30, 32, 34 and 36, into reciprocal rocking motion during which the angle of tilt and the rate of speed of the platform 42 is continuously changed or varied.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the epicycloid drive unit 58 serves to rock the platform 42 about the axis 52, while the epicycloid drive unit 60 rocks the platform 42 about the axis 50. As will be described, the epicycloid drive units 58 and 60 are operated simultaneously, whereby the platform 42 is rocked simultaneously about the intersecting axes 50 and 52.

Platform 42 Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the platform 42 comprises an upper surface or floor 74 provided with a reinforcing downturned peripheral flange 76 extending completely around its periphery. Similarly, the base 22 is provided with an upper horizontal fioor member 78 and a downturned reinforcing peripheral flange 80.

The universal joint connection 44 is illustrated, in detail, in FIG. 4. The universal joint connection 44 comprises a spherical ball 82 carried at the upper end of a threaded rod 84. The threaded rod 84 extends through a threaded bore 86 provided in a support member 88 secured to the upper horizontal wall member 78 of the base 22. A lock nut 90' is employed to lock the spherical ball 82 at a preselected elevation above the base 22.

A socket member 92 having a semispherical concave recess 94 is secured to the lower face of the upper floor 74 of the platform 42. The spherical ball 82 is inserted into the concave recess 94. A cap member 96 secured to the socket member 92, is provided with an annular surface 98 having a spherical curvature, which is engaged with the ball 82 and maintains the same engaged with the concave recess 94 of the socket 92. The socket member 92 is provided with a centering pin 1% which positions the socket member 92 at substantially the geometric center of the platform 42. It should be evident then that the platform 42 is supported for universal tilting motion about the center point 162 of the ball 82.

As stated above, the slide members 48 serve to guide the platform 42 during its tilting or rocking motion about the axes 50 and 52. As can be seen in FIG. 5, each of the slide members 48 is provided with an opening 104 through which the rod member 46 extends. The slide member 48 is retained on the end of the rod member 46 by means of washers 106 and cotter pins 108. In FIG. 5, the width of the slide member 48 is slightly less than the space between the spaced posts 36 whereby the slide member 48 is freely slidable therebetween. The remaining slide members 48 also are freely slideable between their respective spaced posts 30, 32 and 34.

It is to be noted in FIG. 3 that the rod members 46 have their longitudinal axes coincident with, for example, the axis 50 about which the epicycloid drive 60 tilts the platform 42. In a similar manner, the rod members 46 extending between the spaced posts 30 and 34, have their longitudinal axes coincident with the axis 52 about which the epicycloid drive 58 rocks the platform 42. Furthermore, the axes 50 and 52 intersect at and pass through the center point 102 of the spherical ball 82. Since the axes 50 and 52 are mutually perpendicular, pivoting of the platform 42 about the axis 52, for example, will not affect pivoting of the platform 42 simultaneously about the axis 50.

As stated above, the guardrail 56, provided on the platform 42 at the pathway 40, serves as a gate and as means for energizing and deenergizing the electric motors 62 associated with the epicycloid drives 58, 60. As can best be seen in FIG. 6, the guardrail 56 is formed from bar stock which has been bent into a U-shaped configuration. The guardrail 56 includes legs 110, 112, both of which extend through openings provided in the upper wall member 74 0f the platform 42. The leg 110 extends through a cylindrical member 114 which is secured to the lower face of the upper Wall member 74 of the platform 42. The tubular member 114 is provided with an inverted L-shaped slot 116. A pin 118 is secured to the leg 110' and extends through the slot 116. It should be evident that the guardrail 56 may be elevated and then rotated about the leg 110 so that the guardrail 56 extends outwardly of the platform 42. In this position, a person may enter or leave the apparatus 20. Thereafter, the guardrail 56 may be pivoted about the leg 110 and lowered into the position shown in FIG. 6. The pin 118 moving through the L-shaped slot 116 permits the guardrail 56 to be elevated, pivoted and lowered and yet prevents the guardrail 56 from being detached from the platform 42.

The leg 112 at the opposite end of the guardrail 56 is shorter than the leg 110 and is adapted to be inserted into and withdrawn from an opening 120 provided in the platform 42. A switch 122 is supported directly beneath the leg 112 and is energized when contacted by the end of the leg 112. Conversely, when the guardrail 56 is elevated,

the end of the leg 112 will release the switch 122, thereby deenergizing the electric motors 62.

Epicycloz'd drive units 58 and 60 Reference is now directed to FIGS. 7 and 8 for a description of the epicycloid drive units 58 and 60. The drive units 58 and 60 are identical and therefore the description to follow, although relating to the drive unit 58, is to be taken as also applying to the drive unit 60.

The drive unit 58 comprises an outer housing 124 having base flanges 126 which are adapted to be secured to a support pedestal 128 (FIG. 3). The drive unit 58 has a power input shaft 130 which will be provided with a pulley associated with the variable speed pulley arrangement 64, schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the power input shaft 130 is provided with a worm gear 132 which is disposed interiorly of the outer housing 124. Meshing with the Worm gear 132 is a worm wheel 134 which is supported for rotation about a first rotational axis 136. The first rotational axis 136 is, in reality, the longitudinal axis of a fixed shaft 138 which is rigidly secured to the outer housing 124. The fixed shaft 138 is provided with a pinion 140 which is rigidly secured thereto at a point intermediate of its ends.

Surrounding the fixed shaft 138 is a support block 142 which is rotatably supported on the fixed shaft 138 by means of a plurality of bearing members 144. The support block 142, thus, is rotatable about the first rotational axis 136. The support block 142 is provided with a tubular extension 146 to which the worm Wheel 134 is secured. The support block 142 has a U-shaped recess 148 in which the pinion 140 resides.

Spaced from the fixed shaft 138 is a second shaft 150 which extends through portions of the support block 142 and is supported therein for rotation by means of bearing members 152. The longitudinal axis of the second shaft 150 comprises a second rotational axis 154 which, as will be described, revolves about the first rotational axis 136. A gear 156 is rigidly secured to the second shaft 150 and is positioned in meshing engagement with the pinion 140. A hub 158 is provided on the left end (as viewed in FIG. 8) of the shaft 150. Secured to the hub 158 is the crank member 66 which, as can be seen in FIG. 8, is radially spaced from the second rotational axis 154. A face plate 160 is secured to the support block 142 and is provided with an oil seal 162 interposed between the inner surface of the outer housing 124 and the periphery of the face plate 160. A second oil seal 164 is carried by the face plate 160 and surrounds the hub 158 to prevent escape of oil therethrough. An oil level is indicated at 159 in FIG. 8.

It should be evident by inspection of FIG. 8, that when the worm wheel 134 is rotated, for example, in a counterclockwise direction as indicated in FIG. 7 by the arrow 165, the second shaft 150 and hence the second rotational axis 154 will revolve about the first rotational axis 136. Since the gear 156 is engaged with the pinion 140, the second shaft 150 will be rotated about the second rotational axis 154. Hence, the crank member 66 will be revolved about the second rotational axis 154. The path of travel traced by the crank member 66 known as an epicycloid curve. 7 Reference is now directed to FIG. 9, wherein the epicycloid path of travel of the crank member 66 is schematically illustrated. In FIG. 9, the first rotational axis 136 and the second rotational axis 154 are shown aligned in a plane indicated by the line 166. The gear 156, having its central axis coincident with the second rotational axis 154 is thus shown, for the purpose of explanation, in an initial position. Upon rotation of the Worm wheel 134 (FIG. 8) in a counterclockwise direction, the gear 156 will revolve about the pinion 140 and be rotated about the second rotational axis 154.

An initial position of the crank member 66 is indicated at A. In this position the crank member 66 is at a maximum distance from the first rotational axis 136. The successive positions of the crank member 66 during its travel along the epicycloid path, are indicated in dotted outline and labeled B through X. The position of the crank member 66 indicated at A corresponds to the position at which the crank member 66 is again at a maximum distance from the first rotational axis 136. Two subsequent positions of the crank member 66 are shown in dotted outline and which are labeled B' and C, respectively. The successive positions of the second rotational axis 154 during its revolvement about the first rotational axis 136, are illustrated in FIG. 9, by means of dots labeled a through m.

The pitch diameters of the gear 156 and the pinion are such that the gear 156 will be rotated about the second rotational axis 154 from the initial position at A through approximately 2.84 revolutions to arrive at the position A. During this travel, the crank member 66 will describe an epicycloid curve. From the position A, the crank member 66 will describe a second epicycloid curve whose starting point is displaced approximately 55 ahead of the initial position A of the crank member 66. Consequently, the pitch diameters of the gear 156 and pinion 140 are such that a retrograde action is set up whereby the starting point of each successive epicycloid curve is displaced by a retrograde angle, indicated in FIG. 9 by the are 167, ahead of the starting point of the previouslydescribed epicycloid curve. To regain its initial position A, the crank mmeber 66 will undergo approximately 630 revolutions about the second rotational axis 154.

A horizontal reference plane is indicated in FIG. 9 by a dot-dash line 168. The platform 42 will be parallel to the reference plane 168 when the platform 42 is horizontal as shown in FIG, 2, for example. The platform 42 will, as described-above, undergo rocking about the center point 102 of the spherical ball 82 (FIG 4). Hence, the connecting rod 68 and the guiding function of the slide members 48 as they move between, for example, the spaced posts 32 and 36, for example, serve to convert the epicycloid motion of the crank member 66 to reciprocal rocking motion of the platform 42 in a vertical plane and about, for example, the axis 52 (FIG, 1). It should be remembered at this time that the epicycloid drive 58 rocks the platform 42 about the axis 52 while the epicycloid drive '60 rocks the platform 42 about the axis 50.

Returning now to FIG. 9, the reciprocal motion of the platform 42 may be;related to the reference plane 168. The amount of displacement above and below the reference plane 168 is dependent on the position of the crank member 66. Furthermore, the speed at which the platform 42 is rocked also is determined by the direction of travel of the crank member 66 relative to the gear 156. Since the crank member 66 is at a maximum position above the reference plane 168 when the crank member 66 is in position A, the platform 42 likewise will be at a maximum distance above its normal horiozntal position illustrated in FIG. 3. As the gear 156 begins to revolve in a counterclockwise direction about the first rotational axis 136, the crank member 66 will be rotated into the successive positions illustrated by the dotted-outline positions labeled B through X. At each of its successive position B-X, the displacement, of the crank member 66 with respect to the reference plane 168 will vary. Furthermore, at position C, for example, both the gear 156 and the crank member 66 are moving in a downward direction. At position H, both the gear 156 and the crank member 66 are moving in an upward direction. However, at position L, the gear 156 is moving in an upward direction While the crank member 66 is moving in a downward direction. Therefore, at position L, the velocity of the platform in an upward direction will be equal to the difference between the upward velocity of the gear 156 and the downward velocity of the crank member 66. It should be evident then that as the crank member 66 traverses its epicycloid path, the platform 42 will be rocked through a continuously changing angle of tilt and at a continuously changing rate of speed. When the crank member 66 attains the position illustrated at A, the crank member 66 will begin to describe a second epicycloid curve during which the platform 42 is again rocked through a continuously changing angle of tilt and at a continuously varying rate of speed.

It should be noted that each of the epicycloid drives 58, 60 serves to tilt the platform 42 through an ultimate angle of tilt about each of the axes 50 and 52. Because of the construction of the epicycloid drive units 58, 60, the ultimate angle of tilt differs with each epicycloid curve traced by the crank member 66. One ultimate angle of tilt is illustrated in FIG. 3 and corresponds to the angle between the two extreme positions of the axis 50 which are labeled 50a and 50b.

For each ultimate angle of tilt, the platform is first tilted toward the ultimate angle of tilt, its tilting is interrupted by reversing its direction of tilt and then the platform is tilted to the ultimate angle of tilt. The rate of speed of the platform varies continuously as does the ultimate angle of tilt.

Auxiliary equipment The platform 42 is adapted to support a person in a standing position or in a sitting position. Hence, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rehabilitating apparatus is provided with four adjustable straps 169 each having a hook 170. The adjustable straps 169 are adapted to be connected to a harness 172, illustrated in FIG. 10, having four eyelets 174 to which the hooks 170 are attached. The harness 172 is, of course, adjustable to fit snugly around the waist of the person and to fit snugly around the shoulders. As can best be seen in FIG. 3, each of the pairs of spaced posts 30, 32, 34 and 36 are provided with a series of opposed apertures 176 which are provided thereon at various heights above the platform 42. Extending through an opposed pair of the apertures 176 is a pin member 178 which also extends through one of the adjustable straps 169 to secure the same to the spaced posts. The pin members 178 may, of course, be repositioned at any elevation corresponding to the opposed apertures 176.

As a further aid in rehabilitating the leg muscles and back muscles, for example, the platform 42 is provided with openings 180 which are adapted to position a pair of foot pads 182, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 11. As can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the foot pad 182 is provided with a tongue 184 which is inserted through the opening 180 provided in the platform 42. A web 186 secures the tongue 184 to the foot pad 182. As shown in FIG. 12, the foot pad 182 rests on the upper surface of the platform 42 while the tongue 184 is engaged with the lower surface of the platform 42. The web 186, thus, prevents lateral movement of the foot pad 182. In operation, a right and a left foot pad 182 would be connected to, for example, the openings indicated, in FIG. 1, 180R and 180L. The foot pads 182 would be positioned as shown in dotted outline. The openings 180R and 180L represent the maximum distance between the feet of the person employing the rehabilitating apparatus 20. The foot pads 182 may, of course, be moved closer together by being connected to the other ones of the openings 180. Furthermore, any combination of the openings 180 may be employed.

culmination and rehabilitation of the spine is best facilitated by placing the person in a sitting position. Therefore, the rehabilitating apparatus 20 is provided with a seat 188 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The seat 188 is, of course, provided with legs 190 and 192. In order to secure or retain the seat 188 on the platform 42, the platform 42 is provided with apertures 194 and 196 in the positions shown in FIG. 1. The legs 190 are longer than the legs 192 and, hence, will extend downwardly through, for example, the apertures 194 to position the seat 188 at an off-center location on the platform 42. The seat 188 may, of course, be positioned at a central location on the platform 42 by inserting the legs 190 through the apertures 196.

It should be evident then that when a person is either in a standing position or in a sitting position, he will strive to maintain his balance against the rocking motion of the platform 42 simultaneously about the axes 50 and 52. Therefore, his various muscles will be subjected to a mild exercising action which, as is known, aids in loosening the muscles or rehabilitating the same. In the case of elderly persons or youngsters, there is no danger that they will fall since they will be, in effect, strapped to the apparatus by means of the adjustable straps 169 and the harness 172.

It should be evident that the present rehabilitating apparatus 20 may be used in conjunction with a waterproof smock into which is injected dry heat or moist heat during the operation of the apparatus 20. The dry heat or moist heat in conjunction with the flexing of the muscles tends to speed up the rehabilitation process.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with one specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for culminating and rehabilitating the muscular members of a human body, the combination comprising: a platform adapted to support a person in a standing or a sitting position; and means for supporting said platform for universal tilting motion substantially about its geometric center; first epicycloidal drive means operatively connected to said platform for rocking siad platform in a first direction through an angle of tilt that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement and at a rate of speed that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement; and second epicycloidal drive means for rocking said platform in a second direction through an angle of tilt that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement and at a rate of speed that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first direction is substantially perpendicular to said second direction.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a handrail surrounding said platform and positioned to be grasped by a person standing on said platform.

4. The combination of claim 3 including foot pads, and means for detachably connecting said foot pads to said platform at various distances fro-m one another.

5. The combination of claim 1 including a seat; and means for detachably securing said seat to said platform at a central location thereon and at an off-center location.

6. In apparatus for culminating and rehabilitating the muscular members of a human body, the combination comprising: a platform adapted to support a person in a standing or a sitting position; means supporting said platform for universal tilting motion substantially about its geometric center; first drive means operatively connected to said platform for tilting said platform in a first direction through an angle of tilt that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement and at a rate of speed that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement; second drive means operatively connected to said platform for tilting said platform in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, through an angle of tilt that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement and at a rate of speed that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement; and means for guiding said platform during its tilting motion in at least one of said directions.

7. In apparatus for culminating and rehabilitating the muscular members of a human body, the combination comprising: a base; a platform; means for connecting said platform to said base for universal tilting motion about a point disposed beneath said platform; first and second arms secured to said platform and projecting radially outwardly of its center and beyond its peripheral edge, said arms being substantially mutually perpendicular; means carried by said base for guiding the movement of at least one of said arms in a first vertical plane; first drive means supported by said base and operatively connected to said first arm for tilting said platform about a firs-t tilt axis coincident with said point and through an angle of tilt that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement and at a rate of speed that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement; and second drive means supported by said base and operatively connected to said second arm for tilting said platform about a second tilt axis coincident with said point and through an angle of tilt that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement and at a rate of speed that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement; said first tilt axis being parallel to said second arm and said second tilt axis being parallel to said first arm.

8. In apparatus for culminating and rehabilitating the muscular members of a human body, the combination comprising: a base; a platform; means for connecting said platform to said base for universal tilting motion about a point disposed below said platform; first and second arms secured to said platform and projecting radially outwardly of its center and beyond its peripheral edge, said arms being substantially perpendicular to each other; a first epicycloid drive unit supported on said base above said first arm; a second epicycloid drive unit supported on said base above said second arm, and means operatively connecting said first and second arms to said first and second drive units respectively, whereby said platform is simultaneously tilted through an angle of tilt that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement and at a rate of speed that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement about axes parallel with said first and second arms and coincident with said point.

9. In apparatus for culminating and rehabilitating the muscular members of a human body, the combination comprising: a base; a platform; means for connecting said platform to said base for universal tilting motion about a point disposed beneath said platform; first and second drive units supported on said base, each of said drive units having a driving member providing an epicycloid motion; means for connecting said first drive unit to said platform; and means for connecting said second drive unit to said platform; said connecting means being connected at spaced points on said platform, each of said connecting means converting the epicycloid motion of the driving members to reciprocate tilting motion, whereby said platform is tilted simultaneously about intersecting axes and through angles of tilt that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement and at rates of speed about each of said axes that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement.

10. A method of influencing the muscular members of a human body that comprises supporting said body upon a platform supported for universal tilting movement about a point and rocking said platform reciprocally in a first direction and about said point through an angle of tilt that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement and at a rate of speed that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement; and rocking said platform reciprocally in a second direction about said point simultaneously with the rocking of said platform in said first direction and substantially perpendicular to said first direction, said rocking of said platform in said second direction being done through an angle of tilt that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocking movement and at a rate of speed that continuously changes from one cycle of rocking movement to the next successive cycle of rocklng movement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,343,456 10/1921 Ruggles 27257 1,825,462 9/1931 Link 27257 2,206,902 7/1940 Kost 128-25 2,246,689 6/1941 Kost 128-25 2,808,828 10/1957 Rubin 12833 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

